Encroachment rampant in Vembanad lake: Kerala government

By Express News Service  |   

Published: 16th December 2016

KOCHI: The State Government on Thursday filed a report in the Kerala High Court stating that encroachment was rampant in the Vembanad backwaters.

In the report, revenue officials from the Kottayam, Alappuzha and Ernakulam districts submitted that measures had been adopted to evict encroachments.

The report was submitted on a suo mottu case filed by the Supreme Court, considering the ‘critically vulnerable costal area’ status of the Vembanad backwaters. In Julym the Apex Court transferred the case to the High Court, and directed to pass appropriate orders.

The SC had pointed out that the Vembanad lake had immense conservation prospects as it supported a large aquatic bio-diversity, and the area surrounding it is a prominent habitat of migratory birds.

The Vembanad lake is also habitat of various fin and shell fish species and a nursery of several aquatic species. Considering the fragile ecosystem of the wetland; deterioration of the water quality; damage to the aquatic organisms; and shrinking of the lake, the wetland system was included in the National Lake Conservation Programme (NLCP) of the National River Conservation Authority.

The Vembanadu lake shares its banks with 16 panchayats, the Maradu municipality and the Kochi Corporation.
The Ernakulam District Collector informed that resurvey had been completed in 73 villages in the district, and the process was progressing fast in 54 other villages. The extent of encroachment could be ascertained only after completion of the resurvey process and demarcation of boundaries of the lands surrounding the lake.

The secretary of the Kochi Corporation stated that 33 cases were registered for CRZ violation, and notices were served on land owners to produce NOCs issued by the KCZMA. The Maradu municipality informed that there were 18 cases of CRZ violation under it. The Kottayam revenue divisional officer informed that in the 12 cases of encroachment, the panchayat secretaries had been directed to initiate steps for eviction. In the other cases, the Revenue Department has initiated  the procedures for eviction. The Alappuzha District Collector in his report pointed out that the Deputy Director had been directed to assess the extend of encroachment in the Nediyathuruthu Island near Panavally.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2016/dec/16/encroachment-rampant-in-vembanad-lake-kerala-government-1549520.html

Admn orders eviction of encroachment on huge land, deletion of wrong entries

For 8 yrs, several officers shut eyes towards grave issue

Posted on 7/08/2016 by Dailyexcelsior

*FCR order openly defied to benefit encroachers

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 6: The administration has ordered eviction of encroachment on huge chunk of land in the outskirts of winter capital, which was made in connivance with the field functionaries of the Revenue Department nearly 10 years back. Moreover, directions have been issued for deletion of wrong entries in the revenue record made by the accused officials in blatant violation of the standing instructions of the Financial Commissioner Revenue.

Interestingly, this encroachment was exposed more than eight years back but during all these years the concerned officers preferred to either shut eyes towards the issue or delay the action despite being aware of the fact that the encroachers had no legal ground to continue with their illegal possession.

Official sources told EXCELSIOR that in the year 1994-95, the Forest Department raised a plantation closure on the land retrieved due to change of course of Chenab river in village Garkhal and Kanachak. The closure was raised over 460 kanals of land in Khasra No.609 min at village Rajpura (Marh).

However, in the year 2006 the then Patwari Bodh Raj Sharma clandestinely and by abusing his official position and in contravention of the directions issued by the Financial Commissioner J&K through Circular No. FC/LS/Misc-1648/97 dated December 12, 1997 recorded the illegal possession of two encroachers namely Bua Ditta, son of Dhani Ram of Rajpura and Ram Pal, son of Parmanand of R S Pura in respect of 40 kanals of land, which was part of the forest closure comprised in Khasra No.609.

This is notwithstanding the fact that Financial Commissioner Revenue had debarred the Patwaries from entering illegal possession/Khasra Girdawari in respect of State land.

Ever since the recording of illegal entry of 40 kanals in favour of two land grabbers, a public spirited person Satish Kumar Sharma, son of Mela Ram Sharma of Rajpura camp left no stone unturned to persuade the authorities of Revenue and Forest Departments to evict the encroachers. Even the Project Officer of Forest Closure brought the issue to the notice of the then Divisional Commissioner Jammu vide communication No.86-87 dated February 12, 2008.

Thereafter, one after another representation was made right from Deputy Commissioner to the then Revenue Minister and Chief Minister but the encroachment remained intact because of dilly-dallying approach of the concerned authorities, who either shut eyes towards the issue or preferred to delay the action, sources said.
This is notwithstanding the fact that the Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) Jammu vide his communication No.DCJ/ACR/R/2010-11/322-24 dated December 4, 2010 submitted his report to the then Deputy Commissioner Jammu wherein he confirmed illegal possession with regard to 40 kanals of State land.

Recently, the complainant-Satish Kumar Sharma again raised the issue with the Commissioner Secretary Revenue, Commissioner Secretary Forest, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Deputy Commissioner Jammu and others through his counsel Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmad mentioning that any further delay in eviction of encroachment would compel him to knock at the doors of the High Court.

Now, the district administration has come to the conclusion after thorough examination of the record that plantation closure was established over State land falling under Khasra No.609 (old) of Khata No.713 under Khewat No.287 of village Rajpura in 1994-95. After settlement of village, illegal entry was recorded in favour of Bua Ditta and Ram Pal over 40 kanals of land which was also a part of forest closure.

As per the Assistant Revenue Attorney in new Record of Rights for the year 2006, Khasra No. 480 (new) and 609 (old) was recorded ‘Sarkar’ in Khewat No.267 under Khata No.713 while in tenant column 40 kanal of land was recorded under the cultivation of Bua Ditta and Ram Pal in equal share as illegal occupants. Assistant Revenue Attorney has further submitted that prior to settlement, no entry existed in favour of Bua Ditta and others with respect to Kh No.609 (old).

“This entry is found recorded in new Record of Rights during the process of settlement arbitrarily without any corresponding mutation of the past. Therefore, the entry needs to be removed from the new Record of Rights on the grounds of being void abinitio”, the Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Simrandeep Singh said in his order while placing reliance upon the Supreme Court order in the case of Jagpal Singh Versus State of Punjab wherein the Apex Court has passed categoric instructions regarding removal of encroachments from common lands.

Describing impugned entry in ROR as nothing less than the encroachment, the Deputy Commissioner, while accepting the case under Section 32 of Land Revenue Act, has ordered that the wrong entries in favour of Bua Ditta and Ram Pal over 40 kanals of land shall be deleted and recorded in favour of Forest Closure. He has directed the Tehsildar Marh to ensure eviction of encroacher from the ground as well.

http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/admn-orders-eviction-of-encroachment-on-huge-land-deletion-of-wrong-entries/

Admn preparing dossiers of habitual land grabbers for slapping PSA

All Tehsildars asked to prepare history sheets before Aug 5

Posted on 23/07/2016 by Dailyexcelsior

*Non-compliance to invite adverse remarks in ACRs
Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, July 22: In a major step, the administration has initiated the process of preparing dossiers of habitual land grabbers for booking them under the Public Safety Act (PSA) as their activities have reached crescendo and often creating law and order problems. Moreover, all the Tehsildars of Jammu district have been directed to prepare history sheets of the land grabbers on the analogy of practice being followed in Police Stations against habitual criminals.

Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR that there is no end to the land grabbing incidents with complaints about this illegal activity are continuously pouring in from various parts of the Jammu district and the officers and officials of the Revenue Department are virtually feeling helpless in controlling this menace.

“This is mainly because the existing revenue laws have failed to ensure deterrence for not being very harsh and the land-mafia is taking undue advantage of this by fearlessly grabbing Revenue and Forest land”, sources further said while disclosing that huge chunk of Revenue and Forest land is either under the illegal occupation of the mafia or has been sold to the gullible persons after obtaining huge money from them.

Stating that numerous instances have recently come to the notice of the district administration whereby either Forest Department or Revenue Department land has been sold by land mafia by projecting as private land, sources said, “even the family of a civil servant has been cheated by the land mafia in the recent past”, adding “the family of this officer has been sold Forest Department land by projecting the same as private land at a huge cost”.

However, when the officer got the record verified he came to know that the land given to his family was actually a Forest land and subsequently they approached the seller, who flatly refused to return the money. This indicates that there is no fear of law among the land grabbers majority of whom are even enjoying backing of influential persons.

On the basis of several instances, the Jammu district administration has asked the Police, Revenue and Forest Departments to jointly prepare dossiers of habitual land grabbers and furnish the details to the administration, which has made up the mind to book them under the Public Safety Act, sources informed.

“These three departments have also been asked to ensure proper coordination in gathering information and preparing dossiers so that no legal lacuna is left and PSA is slapped on the land grabbers”, sources further said while disclosing that information with regard to several land grabbers has already been furnished by these three departments to the district administration for necessary action, which is likely within next few days.

Moreover, the administration has initiated the process for preparation of history sheets of the land grabbers and necessary directions in this regard have been issued to all the Tehsildars.

According to an order issued by the Deputy Commissioner Jammu, the copy of which has been obtained by EXCELSIOR from one of the Tehsildars, all the heads of the Tehsils have been explicitly told to identify five to ten notorious land grabbers on the basis of quantum of land encroached by them in their respective areas.

They have also been asked to prepare history sheets of such land grabbers on the analogy of the practice being followed in the Police Stations against habitual criminals bringing out the details of the land held by them along with the quantum of land and the period of such encroachment as reflected by the entries in Register Khasra Girdawari.

“The details of the encroachment of the village common lands and the State lands need to be reflected separately”, reads the order of Deputy Commissioner. All the Tehsildars have been asked to furnish this information by or before August 5, 2016 positively. In order to ensure that there is no slackness in ensuring compliance of these directives, it has been made clear to the Tehsildars that prompt action in this connection shall be seen as one of the criteria while writing Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) for the current year.

When contacted, several Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) of Jammu confirmed that Tehsildars have been asked to prepare history-sheets of the land grabbers in their respective areas. “We have been told to ensure necessary compliance in our respective areas”, they added.

It is pertinent to mention here that Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti while chairing the meeting of Deputy Commissioners in the recent past had directed for initiating action against powerful land grabbers.
Even Financial Commissioner (Revenue) vide Communication No. FCR/PS/DCC/6-18 dated April 5, 2016 had desired that an action plan should be prepared by each Tehsildar to vacate the encroached State land.

http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/admn-preparing-dossiers-habitual-land-grabbers-slapping-psa/

Allahabad High Court - Sat Pal Singh & Another Vs The Additional Commissioner & Others

eLegalix - Allahabad High Court Judgment Information System (Judgment/Order in Text Format)

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(Judgment reserved on 27.10.2010)
(Judgment delivered on 4.2.2011)

Case :- WRIT - C No. - 32066 of 1998

Petitioner :- Sat Pal Singh & Another
Respondent :- The Additional Commissioner & Others
Petitioner Counsel :- R.K.Yadav
Respondent Counsel :- C.S.C.,V.K.Singh

Hon'ble Sibghat Ullah Khan,J.
 

Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned standing counsel for respondent nos. 1 to 3.
 

Matter relates to allotment of plot nos. 213 by gaon sabha in favour of respondent no.4 Chaman. The case of the petitioners as disclosed in paragraph nos. 2 and 3 of the writ petition is that out of total area of 8 biswa 5 biswancies of the said plot, an area of 6 biswa 15 biswancies was given to petitioner no.1 and remaining area to petitioner no.2 in a reference under Section 48(3) of U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1953 by the Deputy Director of Consolidation through order dated 21.5.1969. Prior to that the said plot was entered as navin parti i.e. land of gaon sabha. According to further case of the petitioners, inspite of order of 21.5.1969 said plot continued to be recorded in the name of the gaon sabha, in revenue records and simultaneously petitioners' names were also entered. Copy of the alleged order dated 21.5.1969 has not been annexed alongwith writ petition. In para-2 it has been stated that the names of the petitioners were recorded in shudh khatauni of 1388 ? 1393 fasli. 1388 fasli corresponds to 1980-81 A.D. There is absolutely no explanation as to why since 1969 A.D. till 1981 A.D. i.e. for 11 years the names were not recorded. Moreover there is absolutely no explanation as to why petitioners did not take any steps for expunging the name of gaon sabha from the revenue record. If in-fact some order had been passed by Deputy Director of Consolidation then there is absolutely no reason as to why it would have been incorporated in the records only partially i.e. entry of the plot in dispute in the name of petitioners without scoring off the name of the gaon sabha in the revenue records. It is not un-common in consolidation proceedings to come up with forged orders shown to have been passed before 10 years or more and seeking entry on the basis of the same. In this regard reference may also be made to a recent authority of Supreme Court given in Civil Appeal no.1132 of 2011 Jagpal Singh and others vs. State of Punjab dated 28.1.2011. Para-20 of the same is quoted below:-
 

"20. In Uttar Pradesh the U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1954 was widely misused to usurp Gram Sabha lands either with connivance of the Consolidation Authorities, or by forging orders purported to have been passed by Consolidation Officers in the long past so that they may not be compared with the original revenue record showing the land as Gram Sabha land, as these revenue records had been weeded out. Similar may have been the practice in other States. The time has now come to review all these orders by which the common village land has been grabbed by such fraudulent practices."
 

The gaon sabha allotted the land in dispute in favour of respondent no.2 on 21.2.1976 which was approved on 30.3.1976 by the Sub Divisional Officer concerned. Petitioner filed application for cancellation of the said patta on 30.7.1997 under section 198 (4) of U.P.Z.A.&L.R. Act. The said application was rejected on 9.10.1997 by Collector, Saharanpur. On that date no one was present on behalf of the applicant. It was dismissed on the ground that it was utterly beyond time having been filed after about 21 years. Against the said order revision no.10 of 1997-98 was filed which was dismissed by Additional Commissioner (Administration), Saharanpur division, Saharanpur on 9.9.1998 hence this writ petition.
 

In the khatauni of 1388 to 1393 fasli itself, copy of which is Annexure-2 to the writ petition, a note has been appended to the effect that in the available khatauni against khata no.307 at several place there was cutting and overwriting which was not signed and amaldaramad was also in different ink and that the copying clerk had prepared the copy from the original as far as he could read that however there were chances of error (in the copy).
Accordingly, I do not find least error in the impugned orders. Application for cancellation of patta after 21 years was not maintainable. Petitioner has not been able to show that he had any right over the land in dispute.
Writ petition is dismissed. Possession of the land must forthwith be delivered to respondent no.4. The Collector shall arrange delivery of possession.
 

Office is directed to supply a copy of this order free of cost to Shri S.P.Mishra, learned standing counsel within three days.
 

Order Date :- 4.2.2011
RS

This is an UNCERTIFIED copy for information/reference. For authentic copy please refer to certified copy only. In case of any mistake, please bring it to the notice of Deputy Registrar(Copying).

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD 
 

http://elegalix.allahabadhighcourt.in/elegalix/WebShowJudgment.do?judgmentID=1060933

HC orders govt to free 650 kanals of pasture land in Srinagar

By M A Parray on June 23, 2016

SRINAGAR: The High Court on Wednesday directed the state government to take action in accordance with law for clearing over 650 kanals of kahcharie (pasture land) from encroachments in Zakuro, Gulab Bagh and Bhagat Shura areas on the outskirts of Srinagar.

Disposing of a petition filed by a person named Peer Noor-ul-Haq, a single bench of Justice Ramallingam Sudhakar directed the competent authority— Tehsildar Hazratbal Srinagar— to take action in the matter as soon as possible.

In his petition Peer had stated that the 650-kanal pasture land in these areas had been occupied by a land ‘mafia’ that claimed to be the owner of the land and had constructed permanent structures on it.

Peer cited a reply received through Right to Information Act as proof that the land was pasture land owned by the government.

The RTI reply revealed that 459 kanals of land as per the ‘Jamobandi’ 1954-60 and in 2010-11, situated at Zakura and Gulab Bagh, had been encroached upon. Another piece of pasture land of 194 kanals and 7 marlas at Estate Bhagat Shura Srinagar had also been occupied.

Peer said that he approached the revenue department for taking necessary action to evict the encroachers from the land. He complained to the court that the authorities failed to do their statutory duty. The inaction by the authorities prompted him to file a petition before the court to protect the precious state land.

In his plea, Peer urged the court to order revenue authorities to do their duty by evicting the land mafia from the pasture land they have illegally occupied. The court granted his plea.

“In view of the relief sought by the petitioner, Tehsildar Hazratbal Srinagar/ competent authority is directed to consider the nature of complaint filed by the petitioner and take action in the matter in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible,” the court said.

The Supreme Court in Jagpal Singh and others vs State of Punjab and others, 2011, had laid down that illegalities committed in nature of usurpation of common lands of village communities cannot be regularised and the common interest of the villagers cannot be made to suffer merely because the unauthorised occupation has subsisted for many years.

The SC had directed the chief secretaries of all the states to formulate schemes for eviction of illegal and unauthorised occupants of land owned by gram sabhas, gram panchayats, shamilat land for the common use of villagers.

http://kashmirreader.com/2016/06/23/hc-orders-govt-to-free-650-kanals-of-pasture-land-in-srinagar/

HC tells govt: appoint authorities to halt agri-land conversion

By M A Parray on May 21, 2016

Srinagar: The J&K High Court on Friday directed the government to appoint two authorities, one each in Srinagar and Jammu, for the implementation of local laws and Supreme Court directions regarding non-conversion of agriculture land as well as for freeing Kahcharie (pasture) land of encroachments.

More than 3,40,000 kanals of agriculture land has been converted for other purposes, mostly constructions, in the past four years alone, showing government’s failure to curb the alarming trend.

As soon as the hearing in a Public Interest Litigation started, a bench of Justices Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Ali Mohammad Magrey suggested to advocate general DC Raina that the government may constitute the two authorities, which could be the Divisional Commissioners of each division, for implementation of the Land Revenue Act, Agrarian Reforms Act and other allied legislations, Supreme Court directions in Jagpal Singh and Others Vs State of Punjab besides orders passed by the high court from time to time.

The advocate general responded in affirmative and subsequently the court directed the government to pass necessary orders for appointing the authorities.

“The authorities shall, besides monitoring the implementation of the relevant laws, also evolve a mechanism for the protection and preservation of the retrieved land,” the court said and directed the authorities to file compliance report after every two months before the Registrars Judicial of both the wings of the High Court.

The Land Revenue and Agrarian Reforms Acts empower the revenue authorities to stop the conversion of the land for other uses such as construction of houses, etc., and take action against the violators.

“Any person would be at liberty to approach the court with the grievances or complaints that the judgment is not being implemented and or compliance report filed is not correct. On such a motion the Court may then initiate contempt proceedings against the authorities concerned,” the court said while disposing of the PIL— Human Watch (Regd) International Vs State & others, seeking implementation of the Land Revenue Act, Agrarian Reforms Act, J&K Alienation of the Land Act and other applicable legislations to stop the alarming conversion of the farmland.

Any person, the court said, would be at liberty to approach the Divisional Commissioner of each division about the violation of the laws and encroachments made in State land, Shamilat or Khacharie land.

The apex court (in the Jagpal Singh and others v. State of Punjab and others, 2011) has laid down that illegalities committed in nature of usurpation of Common Lands of the village communities cannot be regularized and the common interest of the villagers cannot be made to suffer merely because the unauthorized occupation has subsisted for many years.

It had directed the Chief Secretaries of all the States to formulate the schemes for eviction of illegal and unauthorised occupants of Gram Sabha, Gram Panchayat, Shamilat Land for the common use of villagers.

http://kashmirreader.com/2016/05/hc-tells-govt-appoint-authorities-to-halt-agri-land-conversion/

Panchayat land cannot be leased for over 2 years: Punjab & Haryana HC

Written by Sanjeev Verma

Chandigarh

Published: May 18, 2016

The division has referred the matter to the larger bench for “serious consideration” and to determine whether it is “result of colourable exercise of powers.”

Observing that the fate of shamlat deh land (common village land), which is the primary source of income for gram panchayats in Haryana, is “at stake” due to its benefits being extended by authorities “to a particular class of persons” including unauthorised occupants, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered that no such land shall be leased out for more than two years.

The division bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and AB Chaudhari, while staying operation of Rule 6-A of the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Rules, 1964, as applicable to Haryana, has referred the matter to the larger bench for “serious consideration” and to determine whether it is “result of colourable exercise of powers.”

The court, in its order released on Monday, observed that the original Rule 6 of 1964 Rules mandates that the gram panchayat land is to be leased out by way of auction and it cannot be leased out for agricultural purposes for a period exceeding two years. However, authorities, through an amendment, inserted Rule 6-A in 2013, which was challenged before the High Court in a bunch of petitions, including that of Dalel Singh. Haryana government counsels were found wanting for justification of the Rule before the court decided to refer the matter to the larger bench.

The court observed that vide the impugned provisions, the gram panchayat land is permitted to be leased out, virtually free of cost, for a period upto 99 years “in favour of a class of persons including those who are in its unauthorized and continuous cultivating possession upto the prescribed cut-off date.”

The division bench framed six questions to be determined which include “whether the impugned provisions have been enacted/inserted to give undue benefit to a specific class of persons and are thus discriminatory and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution? “ Also the larger bench would determine whether shamlat deh land can be leased out without public auction.

The division bench also questioned whether the gram panchayat or the inhabitants of the village can be divested of the benefits of shamlat deh land through perpetual lease-hold rights on payment of a nominal lease amount “which is totally a farce”?

The court said that Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961, has been enacted for regulating the rights in shamlat deh and abadi deh lands with the legislative object of utilising shamat deh land for the benefit of villagers.

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/panchayat-land-cannot-be-leased-for-over-2-years-punjab-haryana-hc-2806231/#sthash.p7xc3yxA.dpuf

Srinagar Municipal Corporation major beneficiary of land title fraud

Revenue Minister orders inquiry

Posted on 13/04/2016 by Dailyexcelsior

Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Apr 12: The Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Bashir Ahmad Khan, is the major beneficiary of change of title fraud of 700 kanals of land that has taken place in Kulgam district of South Kashmir.

According to investigations conducted into title fraud of 700 kanals of land in village Gudder in the South Kashmir district of Kulgam, the SMC Commissioner is the major beneficiary. The inquiry report lying with the Raj Bhawan says that Khan is the major beneficiary of the change of title fraud and 92 kanals of grazing land have been shown on  his name.

The land settlement in the village was completed in 2013 and six months ago, residents of the village reported the fraud to the district administration. After preliminary inquiry, it was found that 530 kanals of grazing land was shown as proprietary land of some people of the village including Khan.  Besides this some of the proprietary land of people was also shown as proprietary land of top 10 beneficiaries.

Soon after the preliminary inquiry, Governor N N Vohra had sought a detailed report after which several Revenue officials were attached to the Divisional Commissioner’s office in Srinagar. However, no action was taken against Khan and he was posted as Commissioner SMC.

Meanwhile, Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Syed Basharat Bukhari today took serious note of the change of title of 700 kanals of land in Kulgam district and directed the Settlement Commissioner to enquire into the matter and submit a factual report within 45 days to the Government.

The direction in this regard was given by the Minister while chairing a high level meeting of the officers of Revenue Department convened to review the status of settlement operations and computerization of land records in the State.

The Minister also directed Financial Commissioner Revenue to submit the report of 6 villages, 3 each in Srinagar and Jammu, where settlement and digitization of revenue records has been already completed on pilot. He also instructed that revenue record in 866 villages should be kept on web site for information of the people.

Financial Commissioner Revenue, Pramod Jain, Commissioner/ Secretary Revenue, Mohammad Afzal, Settlement Commissioner, Regional Director Land Records and Survey, Deputy Commissioner Central besides other concerned senior officers attended the meeting.

The Minister underscored the need for strengthening of Settlement organisation and asked the concerned authorities to come with a proposal keeping in view the futuristic plans of the Department.

The Minister expressed displeasure over the lapse of Rs 16 crore meant for settlement besides maintenance of revenue records under Computerization of Land Records Scheme. He directed the funds to the tune of Rs 45 core sanctioned by the Centre under Digital India Land Modernization Programme (DILRMP) should be utilized strictly for settlement and computerization of land records.

The Minister said in first phase the settlement work of Srinagar and Jammu districts would be completed and asked the RAM Tech India which have been entrusted with the Digitization of land records work to expedite its efforts and ensure completion of the job in fixed time frame. He said that he will personally monitor the progress of settlement fortnightly, adding that the settlement of other districts would be taken in second and third phase in the State.

The Revenue Minister exhorted upon the officers to adhere to the timeline of settlement targets and contribute in the preparation of reliable revenue records making devotion and integrity benchmark of the functioning

Bukhari said the settlement operation is fundamental in the land management system adding that meticulous preparation of Records of Rights not only facilitates resolution of land disputes but also minimizes land wrangles and conflicts.

Financial Commissioner Revenue gave a detailed over view on the settlement and computerization of land records in the State. He apprised that 4717 villages were taken up for settlement operation in the State and of which 2257 villages were measured besides Right of records of 1906 villages deposited and revenue records of 866 villages were computerized in the State.

http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/smc-comm-major-beneficiary-land-title-fraud/